Automatic window closer



June 1937- v c. B.v KAUFFMAN ET AL. v 2,083,450

AUTOMATI C WINDOW CLOSER Filed July 7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS June 8 1937.

C. B. KAUFFMAN ET AL AUTOMATIC WINDOW CLOSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 7, 1936 ATTO R N EYS Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED. STATES g -2,0s3,45o AUTOMATIC WINDOW CLOSER.

Chauncey B. Kaufiman and Charles H. Kauffman, Hellam, Pa.

Application July 7, 1936, Serial No. 89,398 12 Claims. (01. 268-123) This invention'relates to closure operators,

and its general object is toprovide a device of that character which is primarily designed for automatically closing a window, in the event of '5 rain or excess moisture passing within'the win- I dow opening, thereby preventing damage by storms and moisture laden atmosphere. j

A further object of the invention'is to provide an automatic window closing device that cushions the closing action of the window, thereby preventing damage thereto, as well as to the parts of the device.-

Another object is toprovidean automatic window closing'device that can be attached to either side of the window, as well as enclosed within the sash, so as to be completely hidden from view, when the window is in closed position.

A still further object is to provide an automatic window closing device that can be set; to remain in open position, is easy to install, compact in form, simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and extremelyeflicient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter'fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims. 3O 1 In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawingswherein like charactersdenote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective fragmentary view illustrating one form of the present invention applied to a window.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken therethrough.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the position of the parts when the window is being closed.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken approximately on line 44 of Figure 2," looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the fragile keeper member used with the present device.

Figured is 'a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified form of the present invention applied to a window.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary viewof the device per se-and taken at right angles toFigurefi.

Figure-8 is a sectional view. taken approximately on .line"8--8 of Fig.ure 6,l looking in the direction of the =arrows.. I

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken approximately on'line 9-9 of Figure'8, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10- is a sectional view'taken through the cam bearing cap.

Referring to thedrawings in detail, andp'arr ticularly to the form as'showninF'l'gures 1 to! inclusive, the letter A indicates the base of a window frame and B the lower-sash whichto- M,

gether with the base has our device attached thereto, as'clearlyshown in Figure 1.. I

flThe-device includes a cylinder I having a closed upperend'Z which has formed therewith a right angle extension 3, provided with openings to i'receivesecuring means suchas screws, as shown, for fixing the cylinder to the sash -B,'for disposalin depending relation with respect thereto.

The lower end of the cylinder is closed by'a cap 4 which is threaded thereon and provided with an opening "forthe passage of a piston rod 5 therethroug'h, the latter having secured to its pperend a piston 6 of the cup washer type, as shown. Surrounding the rod 5'and having its end convolutions engaging the piston 6 and the cap 4 isa coil spring I, for the purpose of urging the cylinder downwardly on its piston. It

' will'be obvious that as the cylinder is being moved into-rounded seats in the lower en'dsthereo'f for the purpose of receiving the pin ll of a'dog 12 which is pivotally mounted on the cap 4 and spring pressed for normally retaining thepin thereof within one of the notches to; hold the window in openposition, as clearly shown in Figure l. However, the rod'5 is rotatable to move the notcheslll out of the'path of 'the dogl'2, to allowthe window to close by the action of the spring, in this form of the invention. p

The lower end of the rod 5 is mounted'flfor' rotation #within a sleeve l3 that is formed on and rises from a base plate M, the latter hav ing aperturesftherein to receive screwsor the like, to--be '-flxed'tothe base A of the window name, as clearly shown in Figure 1, "and "the sleeve l'3has its open free end closed by a cap l which is fixed to the rod by aset screw or the like. a

Extending from the'sleeve is a bracket l6 5 which has fixed thereto an arm II, the latter extending horizontally therefrom for cooperation with an arm [8, that is threaded orotherwise secured to the rod 5, for horizontal swinging movement withinja slot 19 that extends for a 10 portionjfof its 'ycircuniference of the sleeve; l3; whereby thearm i8-can be disposed parallel with the arm 1'! or at right angles thereto, as

shown in full and dotted lines in Figure 4.

The rod is urged to a position for. disposing;-

the notches l0 outof the path of the dog l2, by

a coil spring that surrounds that portionxof the rod within the sleeve and has one end"fix"ed-r'" to the sleeve and its oppositeend to the rod,

clearly shown in Figures 2 and-1, it being ob employ a fragile keeper s'tr ip2l whichv of course a;acts-in;then capacityas moisture responsive ,meansand as best shown infFigure 5, is preferablyan elongatedlstrib ,of paper having its end portions secured together bysuitable' adhesive .jmeians 22, to provide a band for disposal about,

the free end portions of the arms l1 and i8.

;We likewisevemploy manuallyactuated means r i for, holding the parts against movement; andin the form as shown, the; arm It has slidably' mounted ;thereon a collar 23 which is limited H iniit's movement by a pin, and the inner end of} the collar 23. is provided vwith lugs 25 that arefreceivable inrecesses26 arranged at one end of the slot l9, andin the upper and lower walls thereof, astbest shown in Figure 1,- consequently whenthe Jugs are mounted in the recesses 2B,,itjwill be obvious that :the device is held against mo'vement,,. but when the device is set to beacted upon bymoistureor rainwaterthe I collar 2315 moved to the full line ipositionffof Figure}, and in the eventt'the 1 strip or band 2| becomes broken the spring-2|] will rotate, the re 1" d eeelns t net he ea the path of the dog. -,l 2,, and therebyresult in the ndow'being: closed by the action of j the coil 's'pring;1.

newest 19' n us a a i s t a modified form 01. our window closmgjdevicey ,which likewise includes a cylinder, 21 which; is .un ofinted, within the lower sashof -the window, thSaShbeihgprovided with a bore'for that purposelland the cylinder likewise has a a closed up pere'nd having a screw valve 28 extending therethrough to release air from the cylinder. The

'lowenendtof thecylinder is closed'bya cap 29 lwhichp' has extending ,therethrough the rod 30 fotQ-lthe pistonfl and therod is also pnovided with notches-32 to receive the bight portion of Y a "substantiallybailtypedog 33 the latter be-.

- ing-spring pressed by'a leaf spring 34 that holds the dog witmnaneqor thenotches, as shown.:

rotation 'within a sleeve 35 that likewise includes baselplatelt adapted 'to ;be secured to {the ,base oi" a window frame by screws or; the like,

. shown}; anfdfthe upperend or the sleeve 15 ia leeeekr-aiee #1 them ei a wer-r l In order torotate as will beanpa l v 7 I The sash is rovided with avrecess 49 in the,

jfl'helower end of the rod 30 is mountedfor 2,083,450" H t ticalmovement on the rod, butis limited in its upward direction by a collar 38 that is fixed to the rod 30. The sleeve 35 is provided with lugs 39 rising therefrom and diametrically opposed with respect to each other to be received in like also has a cam lug 40 formed on and depending from the inner surface there of,:as best shown in Figure 10.

i Extending through thef'rodifll isja' pin'4l, and' the rod is held agai'nsvmovement by the cam lug 40 being disposed in the path of one ofthe projecting 'portionsof the pin 4|, it being "obvious thatthe cap must be raised for disposing the lug40 out of said path, to allow the rod f -to2be 'rotated, and" the rodis rotated by a coil pring 42 in the. same manner, as described in the form shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive."

' Formed on the base plate '36 and including the "horizontal portion is an arm 43, and coop- 1 eratingwith the arm 43 is-anarm 44 that is fformed' on the cap 31 and which likewise, in-

cludesra horizontal portioni to receive, with the horizontal portion of the arm. 43, the moisture responsive meahswhich is also shown in this,

'form' of the invention, as being a strip 45, held in band formation by adhesive means, as suggestedin Figure 6.

tical'. with the arm Iii, andwhich, is movable in a slot 41 extending for a part of the circumference ofthe sleeve-35, which also: has recesses therein -to receive the lugsof a-collar 48 similar 1' tojthe collar ,3,to hold the parts against movement regardless of whether or not the strip or band 45 is used.

When the device or thjefl'forin just desc ibed 1 disposed recesses arranged in the cap 31 which the rod to set position, v I

we employ'ahandlellthat is preferably iden- 30m isdisposed in set Dositionfto be acted upon-by moisture or the like,.the,parts are arranged as shownin Fi'gure 9; Assumingthatthe strip or] band 45 breaks, it will be obvious that the cap 31 is raised to move the cam lug 40 out of the w th 1 th m t e e e ewi sr h e spring" to rotate the rodijq and consequently the notch away from the dog 33, which of course will resultin the window being lowered to closed position, it being understood that a. coil spring imay be used for that purpose and in that instance the spring will be disposed about the rod JMbetWeenI apuzaan th o -3 H w ever, the coilspring is not necessary in the event the sash isnot counterbalanced by the usual weights, asthe sash thendrop by gravity,

lower end thereoflto cooperate with the bore; in

receiving the partsmounted on the base of the frame; ;s o that it will be obvious that theentire device sishidden from view when the window is closed. r

j It is thought from "the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

and arrangement of the several parts, provided It is totibe understood that changes may be made inthe constructionand in the combination that such :changes fall within the scope of the appendedfclaims.

'What weclaimis:

1. ,A;.closingfdevicefor a window, comprising meansgfor retainingthe-window in open position Y r and including airotatably mounted rod, ratchet means ;for-='said 'rod:to hold the retaining'means active, means 'for rotating said i rod to release the latter from the ratchet means, and meansfor holding the rotating means'against movement and including means responsiveto moisture for releasing the same.

2. A closing device for a window, comprising means for retaining the window in open position and including a rotatably mounted rod, ratchet means for the rod to hold the retaining means active, means surrounding the rod for rotating the latter and to release it from the ratchet means, means including a movable arm having connection with said rod for holding the rotating means against movement, a stationary arm, and means disposed about the arms to hold the movable arm against movement and being responsive to moisture for releasing the same.

3. A closing device for a window, comprising means for retaining the window in open position and including a cylinder carried by the window, a piston in said cylinder, a rotatably mounted rod for the piston, ratchet means for the rod to hold the retaining means active, means surrounding the rod for rotating the latter and to release it from the ratchet means, means including a movable arm having connection with said rod for holding the rotating means against movement, a stationary arm, and a fragile band disposed about the arms to hold the movable arm against movement and being responsive to moisture for releasing the same.

i. A closing device for a window comprising a cylinder carried by the window, a piston in the cylinder, a rod for the piston and mounted for rotation, said rod having notches therein along the length thereof, a dog carried by the cylinder and engageable in any one of the notches for holding the window in open position, means surrounding the rod for rotating the latter to move the dog out of the notch, means including a movable arm having connection with said rod for holding the rotating means against movement, a stationary arm, means disposed about the arms to hold the movable arm against movement and being responsive to moisture for releasing the same, and means to release air from the cylinder to retard movement of the piston during the closing action of the window.

5. A closing device for a window, comprising a cylinder carried by the sash of the window, a piston in the cylinder, a rod for the piston and mounted for rotation, ratchet means for said rod to hold the sash in open position, a sleeve fixed to the window frame and having the lower end of the rod mounted therein, a spring in the sleeve and secured thereto and the rod respectively for rotating the latter to release the same from the ratchet means, means for holding the rod against rotation and including'means responsive to moisture for releasing the same.

6. A closing device for a window comprising a cylinder carried by the sash of the window, a piston in the cylinder, a rod for the piston and extending through the cylinder, said rod being mounted for rotation, a sleeve secured to the frame of the window and receiving the lower end of the rod, ratchet means for the rod to hold the sash in open position, an arm secured to the rod, a stationary arm secured to the sleeve, means surrounding the arms to hold the rod carried arm against movement and being breakable under the action of moisture to release the latter, and

adjustable means for releasing air from the mounted in the cylinderta rod for the piston and extending through the lower end of the cylinder, said rod being mounted for rotation and having notches arranged along the length thereof, a dog carried by the cylinder and receivable in any one of the notches to hold'the sash in openposition, a sleeve havingthe lower end of the rod mounted therein, spring means in said sleevefor rotating the rod and to release the dog from its notch, an arm secured to the rod for movement therewith, a stationary arm secured to the sleeve, means surrounding the arms to hold the rod carried arm against movement and being responsive to moisture torelease the same, and latching means to hold the rod carried arm against movement.

8. A closing device for a window, comprising means for retaining the window in open position and including a rotatably mounted rod, ratchet means for said rod to hold the retaining means inactive, a sleeve fixed to the window frame and receiving the lower end of said rod, spring means in said sleeve and secured thereto and the rod respectively for rotating the latter, said sleeve having a circumferentially disposed slot therein, an arm secured to the rod and extending through the slot, an arm fixed to the sleeve, fragile means breakable under the action of moisture and surrounding the arms to hold the rod carried arm against movement, and latching means for the rod carried arm to prevent operation of the closing device.

9. A closing device for a window, comprising means for retaining the window in open position and including a rotatably mounted rod, ratchet means for said rod to hold the retaining means inactive, a sleeve secured to the window frame and receiving the lower end of said rod, spring means in said sleeve for rotating the rod to release the latter from the ratchet means, cam means carried by the rod and sleeve respectively to hold the rod against rotation, and means including moisture responsive means for releasing the cam means.

10. A closing device for a window, comprising means for retaining the window in open position and including a rotatably mounted rod, ratchet means for said rod to hold the retaining means inactive, a sleeve secured to the window frame and receiving the lower end of said rod, spring means in said sleeve for rotating the rod to release the latter from the ratchet means, cam

means carried by the rod and sleeve respectively to hold the rod against rotation, means including moisture responsive means for releasing the cam means, means for moving the rod against the action of the spring to set the means including the moisture responsive means in operative position, and latching means for the moving means.

11. A closing device for a window, comprising a cylinder carried by and embedded within a sash of the window, a piston in the cylinder, a rod for the piston and extending through the lower end of the cylinder, said rod mounted for rotation and having notches along the length thereof, a spring pressed dog receivable in any one of the notches to hold the sashin open position, spring means for rotating the rod to release the dog from its notch, cam means for holding the spring means under tension, and means for releasing the cam means and including moisture responsive means.

12. A closing device for a window, comprising a cylinder embedded in and carried by a sash of y the cylinder, said rod beingmounted forirotation,

"ratchet means for said rod 'to' hold. the 'sash in open, position; a: sleeve secured: to.;the; Window frame and receiying the lower end-of said' rod,

' spring means in the sleeve for.- rotating the rod to release the latter from the ratchet means, a cap for the sleeve and movable verticallyeon the -rod,

' a pin extending through the rod,'cam' means. de-

release the cap.

"pending from the cap in the path of the'bin to prevent rotation of the rod, and means for hold- 1 ing the cap against movement and including means. breakable under thevaction of moisture to CHAUNCEY B. 7 CHARLES H. KAUFFMAN. 

